Baynanza

Baynanza is Miami-Dade County’s premier celebration of Biscayne Bay as one of South Florida’s most important ecological gems. The County launched the first Baynanza clean up in 1982 with several dozen volunteers collecting trash at a handful of sites.

Since then, Baynanza has grown into a months-long extravaganza. Student art contests in the fall build excitement for volunteer and educational events in March and April. Communitywide activations reach their peak on Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day when thousands of people pitch in at more than 30 sites to remove tons of debris.

The 44th Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day takes place Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon. Sign up for email updates on ways to join the fun in helping preserve and restore the “Blue Heart” of our County, which supports billions of dollars in economic development each year, safeguards natural resources and protects the aquifer that provides drinking water for a third of all Florida.

Registered volunteers at all sites will receive a free commemorative T-shirt featuring the winning design of this year’s art contest. In addition, community service hours are available for students.

The early 1980s marked the beginning of a monumental effort by Miami-Dade County to save Biscayne Bay, and that effort grows today with public and private partnerships committed to the protection of our natural resources. Baynanza, created as part of a larger effort to save the bay, is a celebration of Biscayne Bay and its significance as one of our most important ecological systems in South Florida. But this ecological treasure continues to suffer from pollution and degraded water quality due to hydrological changes, aging infrastructure, nutrient contamination and chronic on and offshore littering.

While the environmental concerns that affect Biscayne Bay have reached alarming levels, events like Baynanza raise critical awareness for these concerns and can make an immediate and positive impact on our environment.
The Baynanza 2026 art contests are now officially closed. A heartfelt thank you to all Miami-Dade County elementary, middle and high school students who poured their creativity into portraying Biscayne Bay's unique natural environment through their artwork. We also thank amateur photographers of all ages for their submissions. Your passion and talent are truly inspiring.

We look forward to sharing the winning designs and artists’ names soon. Stay tuned for the announcement showcasing our community’s commitment to Biscayne Bay.
Remember to wear closed-toe shoes (tennis-type shoes) and bring gloves, water, trash bags and snacks for you and any volunteers in your party.

We suggest you bring the following items with you when you participate in a clean up:
- Extra water
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- Hat or visor
- Sunglasses
- Grabber